Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-30

GLADsTONE'S DEFENSE OF IRELAND
A Strong Speech Pointing Out the
Illogical Character OF the Govern.
ment Coercion Proposals - They
Would Justify an Irish Revolt.
Loud cheers greeted Mr.. Gladstone when he
arose In The house OF commons last night to con-
tinue the debate on the Irish criminal law amend
ment Dill He said that In an issue so grave, pro-
posals so extreme as those now put forth by the
government required ample time for consideration.
He found himself bound 10 support Mr.. Parnells
amendment, because the ground upon which MI.
Balfour based the governments case was insult
cient ana unsatisfactory. The governments biz,
instead OF being a cure for Irish ills or even q
palliative, was measure that would aggravate
the deepest-seated and worst disorders. with
this coercion BILL" exclaimed Mr. Gladstone ssthe
prospect OF Cancellation has vanished into thin
ar. The government intend to exclude the land
OIL. winch was the main recommendation OF tie
commission which has just completed an eXhauS-
tive investigation OF the Irish troubles. Nothing
remains but the figure OF coercion-bare, bald and
gaunt-alaS, too familiar.
''rhe right honorable chief secretary for ireland
nas attempted TO excuse the proposals on the
ground that crime in Ireland during The last three
years has increased, but he has followed an un-
usual course In refraining from giving the house
Official Information proving his allegations. The
statistics crime In Ireland were against the gov
eminent Take the instance given of threatening
letters. In 1885, 432 such letters were received.
IN 1856 but so more were received. That hardly
furnished ground for asking parliament 10 assent
70 the extreme measure OF coercion. Other classes
or crime amounted in 1885 TO So and in 1886 to
5lI: Opposition cheersl This increase was de-
Scr1oed as the main reason for the extreme de-
mands OF the government. II Mr.. Balfour had fur
tner private Information let him speak. Itwas
the first time he (Gladstone) knew OF anonymous
assertions being imposed on parliament In support
OF demand for legislation" Here he referred in
detail 10 the cases adduced by Mr.. Balfour OF
that boycottfng was bad enough, but IL was not
confined TO nattonaIistS. He knew OF a Protestant
clergyman who had been deprived OF his living be-
cause ne was a home ruler Continual allusion
had been made to previous liberal coercion pro-
pOsals. In 1881, when his government proposed
coercion, the ground was the agitation then exist
ing. Wherever he went he was dogged by crime
FOR the present bill there was no sucn excuse.
AMPLE TINE FOR DEBATE MUST BE HAD.
demand was made upon the house TO commit
the most formidable breach OF trust that q popu-
lar assembly could perpetrate-to relax the condi-
tons upon which alone parliament should sanction
change in the criminal law i'm order that the law
might Tall with increased strngency upon par
tcular portion OF the queens subjects. The oppo-
St1On would Insist upon having the fullest Oppor-
tunity to examine the provisions of the bill
Every Irish and every English member should
have the fullest scope for presenting his views and
Tor sitting and ScrutiniZing the extreme proposals
or the government. Among its most insulting
and eXaSperating proposals the worst ever sub
mitted to parliament was the provision that Irish
trials be held In London. He had never known
such blow at the national feeling OF Ireland. The
government could have devised nothing more
nkely 10 aggravate every existing evil.
FORCE NO REMEDY.
AS to the permanent duration of the bin. the
proposals made ones blood boil To establish
what was formerly only temporary remedy as a
permanent rule OF existence for society in Ireland
would put brand OF inferiortty upon Ireland for
was remedy. The lesson OF many wears showed
that force was no remedy. Since the election OF
1850 since the bulk OF the liberals had judged that
IL was both right and safe to grant home rule Ire
land had been free from crime and outrage-a con-
dlti0n long unknown. Why was this? 1t was
because the Irish people knew that alarge-though
lnSufilclently large-bOdy OF liberals had adopted
their interests and would abide by them to the
last. II the liberals acceded 10 the appeals OF the
government gov the result would be Ietroeresson.
Inc irish people would return TO state OF things
which noeral Efforts had already partly remedied.
SO long as Ireland continued In her present course
OF moderation, so long would liberals be bound TO
perseyere In endeavOrs to assist her The time
would soon come when to the many now support
Ing the cause OF Ireland would be added many
more; when deplOrable propositions, such as those
OF the government would no more be associated
with the name OF Ireland, and when ft would be
seen that In doing what they could now TO serve
the Irish cause they were also serving the cause OF
Tie wide empire OF Great Britain.
Mr.. GOschen taunted Mr.. Gladstone with his
alliance with the National League. He asked him
how he would continue to meet the Leagues con-
Stantly increasing demands until an absolute sep
aration should be completed. Everybody but the
TO be 1ntOlerable. The government would be dis
graced II it refrained from frustrating the efforts
OF the enemies OF the existing laws and the oppo-
nentS OF whatever remedial measures the govern
ment might propose. He regretted the absence
from Mr.. GladstOne's speech or any condemnation
OF Irish crime the violent language OF Irish agi-
tators. The liberal leader rather suggested de-
Tense OF those crimes The government based
their case upon the notorious failure OF the admin
1StratfOn OF justice.
Mr.. Gladstone renewed his defiance OF the gov.
ernment's attempt TO enforce closure. The Glad
stonians are confident that they delay the pas
sage OF the bill until May, and In the meanwhile
are hopeful that the evolution OF events will foil
the whole scheme. The whips on each side have
forbidden members to be absent during the holi-
days, unless they are paired.
INTENSE INDIGNATION IN ENGLAND.
Mr.. Gladstone's speech is widely commented
upon as an effective exposure OF the feebleness OF
the governments reasons for demanding coercion.
The strength of his reasoning is admitted by the
conservatives, and is felt keenly by the unionist
less the coercion bill be reduced to simple pro-
visions against boycotting and the plan OF cam
the proposals relating to the transfer OF Jury trials
especially since the unionist papers In the prov
inces declare them to be untenable.
Radical societies throughout the country are
passing resolutions against the coercion bill pro-
nOuncing IL 1mpOlftic and unjust. The English
radical press denOunceS the measure in language
Of passionate indignation. The Pail lNau Gdact,e |
says: ''Such measure, subjecting a nation white
skinned, Christian and civilized 10 arbitrary inter-
OF man, would justify an Instruction. Ir the /
Irish rose in revolt they would have our hearty
sympathy and support. II they did not wish 10 |
revolt against such system, they would deserve |
our infinite contempt" |
IT'S sTRNGENcy REGARDED BY DAvrTT Az A GOOD |
FEATURE OF THE COERCION BILL
Michael Davitt, presiding at a meeting OF the |
National League at Dublin, last night, said the |
very stringency OF the Balfour measure appeared |
to him to be favorable feature. He was not pre- /
pared to say what IL might be necessary for Irish
manhood to do when naked tyranny reigned in |
Ireland. Under previous tory governments deS-
pots had been made to feel, when they tried TO /
crush liberty, that they themselves had been
crushed.
william O'Brfen, editor OF United Ireland. said !
he would not pretend TO be violently apprehensiye
Of the future. The Irish people had gone through |
similar trials before as those they would have TO
endure should the proposed coercion law be
adopted. "When Mr.. BalfOur shall have had ey-
perence in the results OF coercion" said Mr.
OfBrien, che Will find bed OF thorns a much
more tolerable couch than the BED OF the chiefs
secretary for Ireland"
Lord TennysOn's Poem.